The 2025 NFL Draft might be over, but the Patriots still have more work to do to make their roster competitive for the upcoming season. That means they’ll have to evaluate the undrafted players and sign those they feel would be the best fits for the team, and they got right to it as soon as the draft concluded.

At this point, the list of who will be officially counted as a UDFA signing is far from concrete, as many reports will not know who is signed and who was just invited for a tryout.

However, we do know one player who has officially made the roster, and it’s another powerful running back who could easily earn a spot on the game day roster if the early evaluations of him are even half correct.

That player is Lan Larison, a running back from UC Davis who some have already compared to the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey. That is more than likely a bit presumptuous, considering his NFL resume, and Larison has yet to step onto an NFL field. But the fact that there is that much excitement around him is a good sign, at the very least.

Lan Larison could have a solid chance to make the Patriots 53-man roster based on his college tape

Although the Patriots already added a star running back to their roster with the second-round selection of TreVeyon Henderson, there’s always room for more explosive players and offensive weapons for Drake Maye to work with. That’s even more reason to like the signing of Larison, which adds another level of excitement to the offseason.

Fans are already hyped about him becoming a Patriot, comparing him to some of the NFL greats, even if the player they chose has massive shoes to fill.

Larison was impressive during his time at UC Davis, recording 284 carries for 1,465 yards and 17 touchdowns. On top of that, he’s also a weapon as a receiver, adding 62 receptions for 847 yards and six touchdowns to his season. To top it off, he also has the flexibility to be used as a kick returner, adding 56 yards to his season total.

That totals 2,387 all-purpose yards in a single season. That’s likely why some are mentioning McCaffrey’s name; on paper, it’s for good reason.

Although we don’t know what he will truly be capable of in the NFL, based on his stats alone, it’s hard to fathom how he went undrafted. The running back class was deep, and many teams were able to draft a talented player. But Larison seems like he should have been in the mix, too.

Whatever the reason for him going undrafted is, it ends up being a benefit for New England, since they were able to sign him as an undrafted free agent.